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SURETY
BONDS
The U.S. Small Business Administration is making it easier for small businesses to obtain surety bonds by offering a new, fast and easy online electronic application process on the agency's popular Web site. Small construction, service and supply companies that need bonding can now apply for SBA surety bond guarantee assistance online on the SBA Web site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program may help you obtain the bonds you need to bid or perform public and private contracts. Under the program, the SBA works with participating surety companies to provide bid, payment, and performance bonds on contracts up to $2 million in value for small contractors by guaranteeing a percentage of losses sustained in the event of a default. Corporate surety bonds protect the project owner against financial loss, and in the case of public construction projects, protect taxpayer dollars if the contractor defaults. The new Surety Bond Guarantee E-application System, or E-app system, allows small businesses to quickly and easily submit their application for bonding assistance with surety companies that are registered to use the process. To learn more about the Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) program and to access the E-app system click on http://www.sba.gov/eapplication. Small businesses and surety companies participating in the SBA prior approval program will be able to transmit application forms electronically to help expedite review and approval processes. The new online e- application capability, coupled with recent rule changes, is combining to make bonding more available to small and emerging businesses, and enabling them to access these necessary bonds more quickly. "Streamlined rules for small businesses and for surety companies alike, along with quick and easy online access, will make it easier for small and emerging contractors to gain access to surety bonds so they can bid on public construction projects," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston. "These changes will support small businesses nationwide, particularly construction contractors in the devastated Gulf Coast region and other disaster stricken areas around the U.S." SBA assistance in
locating a participating surety company or agent and completing application
forms is available online. For more information on SBA's Surety Bond
Guarantee Program, go online to http://www.sba.gov/osg/ for a list of
area office contacts and SBA offices near your business or call 1-800-U
ASK SBA. |
On This Page "Whenever
you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Villisca Chamber of Commerce
The Villisca Chamber of Commerce and its members work together with a vision for the future by building on a memorable past. We
encourage you to do business with the Chamber members listed below: |
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Are your potential customers looking for you? A Web site is not a magic bullet for business success but ... Checklist for
business preparedness for pandemic flu or bioterriorism The time to prepare is when the sun is shining Disaster Recovery Tips for Small Businesses |
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For help regarding compliance with IRS, OSHA, and EPA regulations, click here to go to the Website on Small Business Compliance Alliance (SBCA) is the gateway to information and resources on IRS, OSHA and EPA regulations for small businesses. Through innovative partnerships with federal, state and local agencies, models were developed to provide easy-to-understand regulatory compliance information and resources in a totally confidential format. Do you need demographic information in planning your business expansion or in writing an original business plan - you'll find much of what you'll need on ISU Extension's website www.seta.iastate.edu State of Iowa Vendor and Bid Opportunities - Have you ever considered bidding for State of Iowa contracts? It may not be as difficult as you would think |
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and Related Businesses D & J Farms, Inc. Frey Enterprises The Greenery Hilltop Greenhouses & Gardens Kernen Farms, Inc. Nodaway Valley Equipment Southern Hills Vet. Service Sunbest Papetti Farms United Farmers Merc Co-op Villisca Elevator Bruce & Donna Williams David Williams |
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The Chamber brings together the business community and those interested in the economic growth of Villisca. Chamber members work together to highlight member businesses and their products and services. Through events such as the upcoming Easter egg hunt and the 4th of July Fireworks Display the Chamber gives back to the community that supports local businesses. In the last year, the Chamber of Commerce has taken steps in their economic development initiative to assure that Villisca grabs hold of opportunities for economic growth, to participate in regional groups that are working together for regional growth, and to work with alumni in community growth. As readers are aware, in the fall of 2005, the Chamber, together with the City, secured the services of Roxanna Sieber as Villisca's Economic Development Director. This does not reduce the involvement of the Chamber members in decision making about business and community growth. Rather, through Sieber's involvement with regional organizations and focus on identifying growth opportunities, Chamber members have the information to make more informed decisions. This is information individual members just do not have the time to develop because they are busy growing their own businesses and participating in community events and projects. The public often views a Chamber of Commerce as serving mostly retail businesses but that is far from the truth. Even those businesses that do not have a local consumer base benefit from Chamber membership because as a local economy thrives the environment in which to do business is expanded. An example would be the involvement in the Chamber in working with other communities to cause the Iowa DOT to improve Highway 71. Chamber
Officers for 2007 |
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Automotive
Repair Marsh and Sons Automotive Repair Schafer Automotive Service |
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CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP |
Banking
and Financial Bank Iowa Great Western Bank Houghton State Bank Page County State Bank |
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| Communications Johnston Communications KCSI-KOAK Radio Mediacom Red Oak Express Villisca Farmers Telephone Co. Villisca Review Stanton Viking |
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| Construction Berning Construction Jim Parker Construction Nishna Valley Builders |
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Food
and Drink Casey's General Store D&D Bar and Grill V-Bar, American Legion Villisca Foods/The Bank |
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| Insurance
and Law Firms Kline Insurance Swanson Law Firm |
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| Medical Alegent Health, Drs. Piller, Quinn and Wolff Clarinda Regional Health Center Montgomery Co. Mem. Hospital Stoner Drug Villisca Good Samaritan |
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Iowa
Statistics
Here are a few Iowa facts that may surprise you!
Our thanks to the Union County Development Corp. newsletter for this data. |
Real
Estate Century 21, Bill Jacobs, Agent Kline Insurance/Crawford & Co. Real Estate |
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Retail a view of some of the retail district in downtown Villisca on a snowy day Casey's General
Store |
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Service
Businesses Brown Sanitation, Ron & Joan Fish Appliance Service Kendrick & Heard Plumbing & Heating Methodist Church Conference/Camp Aldersgate Southern Hills Vet. Service Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative Villisca Community Schools Villisca Good Samaritan Villisca Detail Center & Car Wash Villisca Municipal Power Plant Villisca Public Library Wolfe Funeral Home |
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| Individuals Walter & Ruth Eitzen Tom Focht Mark & LaDonna Focht Clarence Peterson Jim & Diane Wallick |
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Young people have always been entrepreneurs - we just didn't call them that. We called them paper boys, lawn mowers, baby-sitters, field workers. Today adults have taken on those jobs so our young people have to look for new ways to earn income. In rural Iowa, there just are not enough part time job openings for after-school and summer jobs for teens so teens are having to take a new look at entrepreneurism - creating their own businesses so they have an income source that fits with their busy school and extracurricular activities. From time to time, reports on TV business shows have featured students who have made their fortune before they graduate from high school by selling their tech skills, designing and selling t-shirts. Still other teens have earned their way to college through the help of non-profits that have helped train teens in skills and then giving them an incubator environment to grow a business. One of those non-profits is Young Aspirations/Young Audiences, Inc. - better known as YaYa - in New Orleans. Fashioned after after the Renaissance apprentice/guild system, under the supervision of an artistic staff the young people learn to paint images on furniture, screen print, batik, paint silk fabric, and design projects ranging from posters to murals to watches. They have the opportunity to sell their creations in the retail division of YaYa and earn 50 to 80 percent of their art sales. Though we do not have such a incubator in southwest Iowa, southwest Iowa teens may still be able to create their own jobs. They need to approach their first entry into the world of entrepreneurism as any adult would. Once they have an idea about what they would like to do, they need to do a feasibility study to discover the potential and the barriers to their proposed business. Included in their feasibility study they need to look at their capacity or ability to do the job. For instance, if they are going to be a metal recycler, do they have the capacity or can they learn to distinguish between the various metals and to learn where and how to sell them. They need to look at the costs involved in the business and determine if they can secure financing. They need to look at their ability to sell their product or service; they need to determine if there are enough people with enough money to buy their product often enough so they can make a profit. Depending on the business there are other issues that may need to be addressed. Once the would-be entrepreneur determines that the business has the potential of success, a business plan needs to be written. The business plan is the feasibility plan with specifics. We've included on this web site a couple sample business plans for teen businesses as examples of what needs to be looked at and the details that need to be attended to during the planning process. (metal recycling) (artisan) (gardener)
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State of Iowa Vendor and Bid Opportunities Requests for Proposals, Bids, Contracts and Services. Small and microenterprise businesses can do business with the State of Iowa. Listed below is a central e-location where state agencies can publish, post and advertise vendor and bid opportunites for procurement of goods or services. A great place to start to find opportunities to contract with the State of Iowa. http://eservices.iowa.gov/rfp/ Current January postings include:
Small and microenterprises can also compete for federal contracts. A good place to start is through PRONET, a service of the Small Business Administration. Start at the SBA website - www.sba.gov Eye halve
a spelling chequer Eye strike
a key and type a word As soon as
a mist ache is maid Eye have run
this poem threw it
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Villisca
Business Directory Find below a list of Villisca businesses. We are pleased to include businesses outside Villisca who consider themselves a part of the business community by participating in the Villisca Chamber of Commerce. We've tried to include all Villisca businesses and welcome corrections. The one exception is that we have included only the farm operations which belong to the Villisca Chamber of Commerce. |
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Ag
and Related Businesses Frey Enterprises Hilltop Greenhouse
& Gardens Kernen Farms,
Inc. Nodaway Valley
Equipment Penwell Grain Company Pioneer Hi-Bred
Intl Shapcott Implement
Co.
Sunbest Papetti
Farms Tyson Fresh Meats
Inc United Farmers
Merc Co-op Villisca Elevator Bruce and Donna
Williams David & Corrine
Williams Antiques Villisca
Furniture & Antiques Westside
Treasures Automotive
Repair & Maintenance Clark's Garage Kasha's Garage
McAlpin Corner Service Myers Auto Repair
& Auto Body Precision Auto &
Truck Schafer Automotive
Service
Banking
and Financial Great Western
Bank Houghton State
Bank Page County State
Bank Beauticians Hair Connection,
The Hair Kut Korner Studio Central Salon Child
Care Churches Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church Presbyterian Church St. Joseph's Catholic
Church Strand Evangelical
Lutheran Church United Methodist
Church
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Communications KCSI-KOAK Radio Mediacom Communications
Corp. Red Oak Express SWIE Digital Villisca Review
Stanton Viking
Construction Clark Plumbing &
Construction Gay Brian Construction
Co. J & J Construction
& Lawn Service Jim Parker Construction Kammerer Shawn Carpentry
& Roofing Leichty Construction Nishna Valley Builders Scott Foundation
Replacement Winther Construction Wright Construction Entertainment and Cultural Affairs Aldersgate Camp
and Retreat Center Olson Linn Museum Rialto Theatre Villisca Country
Club Food
and Drink Casey's General
Store D&D Bar and
Grill The Bank V-Bar, American
Legion
Insurance
and Law Firms Swanson Law Firm Medical Clarinda Reg. Health
Center Montgomery Co.
Mem. Hospital Villisca Medical
Clinic Stoner Drug
Wyatt, James F.
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Real
Estate Century 21, Bill Jacobs, Agent 2453 T. Avenue Villisca, IA 50864 826-8132 Crawford &
Co. (formerly Kline Real Estate) John Hausen/Jim
Hughes Real Estate Sun Valley Apartments Individuals Tom Focht Mark & LaDonna
Focht Clarence Peterson Jim & Diane
Wallick Donna Williams Retail Flower Basket Granny's Auto
Parts The Greenery Red Oak Chrysler Stoner Drug United Farmers
Merc Co-op Villisca Foods Villisca Furniture
& Antiques Westside Treasures Service
Businesses Brown's Sales &
Service Dance Unlimited Fish Appliance
Svc, Htg & AC
Means Lawn Scape Methodist Church
Conference/Camp Aldersgate North Page Detailing
LLC Service Clean Southwest Iowa
Rural Electric Cooperative Thompson Woodworking
& Rock U.S. Post Office Villisca Community
Schools Villisca Detail
Center & Car Wash Villisca Municipal
Power Plant Villisca Public
Library Villisca Small Engine Villisca Storage Wolfe Funeral
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